Laurencia asks:
How can I teach my huskies to obey, and walk without a leash?
Thanks
April 12, 2010
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Laurencia,
I have worked with my young sibe by teaching her basic obedience first. ALWAYS praise them when they do what you ask. Never discpline them for coming to you when called. Even if they have done something wrong, the look on your face, your tone of voice and body posture speaks volumes to them. You need your recall to be solid. Make it a happy thing when you get them to come – either a belly rub, a short playtime, a piece of a training treat, a ride in the car. They will then associate you calling them as a good thing, ALL the time. You MUST do this with consistency! (everyone in the household needs to be on board) The more consistent you are, the faster and better your dog will learn. And, once trained, you need to “brush up” from time to time, especially on the skills that you may not use on a daily basis. There is a great reference magazine called Training Secrets for Siberian Huskies. You can find it at most pet stores (pet smart, petco, etc.) They have some really great information on all the things that you would want to do with your dog. (ie manners!) It also helps you identify things that tell your dog that you are NOT the alpha! It’s a great find. I think you’ll find a lot of what you are looking for in this magazine. Stay with it,… it’s so worth it! Good luck!
Comment by Suzanne — April 13, 2010 @ 11:17 am
Thanks for the thorough response, Suzanne! I really like your focus on consistency and positive reinforcement. I think it is also important to remember, though, that Siberians are not ever completely trustworthy off-lead. I, personally, would never test it, unless in an adequately enclosed and safe area. Top agility trainers in the country will confirm that it only takes once for a Siberian to realize that they are the ones with control over the situation, and it could very easily end in tragedy. Their prey drive is instinctive – typically no amount of training will override that :). To me, it’s just not worth the risk, knowing full-well ahead of time that the odds of them recalling off-lead consistently are slim to none. Just my opinion. Jess
Comment by Jalerran — April 13, 2010 @ 1:57 pm
I agree. Siberians are built to run. They do need confinement for their own safety. I don’t take mine walking off leash. May I please also add that in my opinion, the “down on command” is one of the most important lessons to teach a dog. If your dog does chase a small animal across the street, you want him to “down” right there. You want him to stay “down” until you come across the street and get him by the collar. It could save his life. You don’t want him to run back across the street into traffic when he sees you. Down and off are two different things. Down means lay down right now. Off means get off whatever he’s on. Hope this helps.
Comment by Marjorie — April 14, 2010 @ 1:00 am
Totally agree with Suzanne, you just must to know how your dog breathes. If it’s girl, you can’t NEVER let her off leash in when she’s in season, in best case you will see her again in few days
Well I let my dogs out of leash in park for example, but never more than two of them, and not more than 20 min. that is enough time for them to run, play and feel “happy wild” for one day. After that time they are usually done playing and it’s time for ‘trouble’… and I mean it! After that they will go searching the place or people (who may not wish to be investigated 😀 ) and in that moment it’s already difficult to them to call-of 
Just like Jess said they (I will call it wolf) drive is instictive.
At first you are practising your dog to come to you in your garden, when they comes you just give them the treat and say ‘good’ – it’s very important also that dog recognize the word like sometnihg good for it! So, when you next time learn your fur kid to lie down, sit (examples) it will knows when it’s good, and that’ll make him happy because the treat is comming.
And that you need a sistem. Again, I let my dogs in park to play, run, be wild for about 20 min. Then one dog is on leash, and I practise with other for shows. That is short time maybe 5 min with each. And that the piont, do that every day but shortly. So, my dogs are very happy after that and I am eaven more happy because when we step in to the ring, they practically knows what is next to do 😀
Comment by Melita — April 14, 2010 @ 1:37 am
It’s very intersting Marjorie. But how you teach the husky to do command at the sametime of your speaking? In six years I never managed to do it! They come, sit, rolls, lie down, but in some time – ofcourse when thay feel it’s time to do it 😀 So stubborn…
Comment by Melita — April 14, 2010 @ 1:46 am
Hi Melita how are you? A competition based obedience class is a great start and highly suggested. Mine work on hand and voice commands. You want them to know the “down” hand signal. They may not hear you over traffic. Their desire to please is stronger than their stubborness. Treat training a ‘food oriented’ breed is a plus. Praise often. Remember this is a working breed. They want to work for you. You just have to “out stubborn” them.
Comment by Marjorie — April 14, 2010 @ 2:15 am